Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner Summary and Reviews
![Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything](/images/Freakonomics-Revised-and-Expanded-A-Rogue-Economist-Explores-the-Hidden-Side-of-Everything-0061234001-L.jpg)
|
List Price: Our Price: $12.99 You Save: $14.96 (54%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $11.44 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Book Review: Sorry, But I Don't Agree
Summary: 2 Stars
All the hype by reviewers about how "different" and insightful this book was prompted me to buy a copy. I found it totally disappointing as a book on economics or related to economics. It was in fact interesting and amusing in places, but the book is based on a different social science altogether -- Sociology.
Many other books have been written about social groups and relationships, and this is just another one. The organizational structure of the drug industry and the popularity of particular names for children are perhaps interesting but not something that need to be included under the umbrella of economics.
Sorry, but I wouldn't have bought it if I had skimmed it in my local book store.
Book Review: Freakonomics will make you laugh while you learn!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm about halfway through this book and have to say that no book of this genre has ever held my attention as this one is.(they are usually to boring to bother-but not this one!)
Its so relatable and humorous. It poses questions and answers to many things we think of-yet never knew the real answers-AND it does the same for questions we've never even thought of asking!
Its the humor interspersed in this book that keeps the pages turning and keeps it from being boring and monotonous.
These 2 guys hit the nail on the head with this one and so far, I'm all-the-better-informed for it!
Book Review: What the economics field needed. Creative entertainment.
Summary: 4 Stars
Although I abhorred economics while in school, I've become fascinated with both micro- and macro- disciplines in the last five years or so. The upside to the desire to learn about economics is simple: there are a plethora of books, articles, newsletters, and other rags extolling every imaginable corner of economics. That said, discerning the valuable sources from the chaff is the key, and frankly, the only real way to know is to pick up the book, read it, and evaluation. Well, I can tell you without equivocation that FREAKONOMICS fits the mold of excellence
FREAKONOMICS, authored by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, reflects economics from a contrarian perspective, or perhaps, as the title infers a "freak's" perspective. Levitt attacks economic platitudes by asking questions that are, well, freaky. Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? Does a good first name contribute to success in life? The questions only get better.
Levitt is anything but conventional. He opens the book by espousing his overview of economic theory, a theory he seemingly chides, yet respects, for he sees economics as "a study of incentives - how people get what they want or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing." Unorthodox to be sure, but spot on as well. While Levitt's genius is obvious, his social conventions are similar to those of Don Imus. For instance, Levitt floats the proposition that violent crime in the `90s is directly related to the result and instance of legalized abortion in the `70s. Huh? Well, don't laugh; he provides arguably compelling evidence in support of this theory.
Despite his lack of ostensible sensitivity, Levitt rates high as an erudite economist, and, without doubt, has written a very entertaining book on a subject that can be as dry as the Mohave. And, why not? Levitt has the dubious honor of owning both Harvard and MIT degrees...pretty heady by any standard
Levitt and Dubner have created a book that will be widely heralded and hated. The purists will see it as a rogue attack on a venerable discipline while the unconventional will hail it as genius. Regardless one's position, it is wonderful in its creativity, and thought-provokingly fabulous. The reader need not have any prerequisite knowledge of economics; in fact, that might pose more barriers than less. Regardless, FREAKONOMICS is warmly recommended for economic knowledge and highly recommended for creative content.
Book Review: Read it in one sitting
Summary: 5 Stars
I ordered this book thinking that I'd read it over the next several weeks, a couple of pages at a time. It was in the mail when I got home from work tonight. I cracked it open after dinner and proceeded to read the entire book! It's very, very interesting. Don't let the fact that it is written (or co-written), by a Ph.D in economics stop you from reading it. My only problem now is that I need to find another book.Book Review: You'll never learn so much in so short a time
Summary: 5 Stars
So what if a reviewer says it only took them 3 hours to read it. I bet they learned more in those 3 hours than they did doing a lot of other stuff.
This book is not meant for economists. If you were a real economist, you wouldn't be reading this because 1)it's simplified and you could be reading the peer-reviewed journal articles instead or 2) you already read those articles.
What this book does, and it does a great job of, is making public a lot of really fun research that Levitt has done in the past, most of which academics knew about.
If you want some substantial economic theory with seminal ideas, don't look at Levitt, cause he spent a summer on the couch and couldn't think of one.
But, beyond the economics the book also brings you the person behind the ideas. Chapters usually have a little snippet about Levitt's personal life. You get the sense that he is very happy about what he does, which adds a human dimension to a book about numbers.
I don't think enough credit has been given to Stephen Dubner, Levitt's coauthor. He really is an amazing writer and without him, there would be no Freakonomics.